Multicolor printing apparatus



March 15, 1932. s s 1,849,597

MULTICOLOR PRI NTING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Mar. 15, 1932 @NITED STATES rarestoFFice GEORGE A. SIlVIlVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BYv MES NE ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO

BUR'ION R. HERRING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MULTIGOLOR PRINTING APPARATUS Application filed May 17, 1929. Serial No. 363,752.

10 bed of the printing press with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a partial enlarged section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line '33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4.4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged view of the specimen print from the plate shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the frame shown in Fig. 1.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a bed 10 of a printing press having side bed rails 11 and 12 provided with stops 11 and 12 A chase 13 of any desired type to hold the plate to be printed is secured to the bed of the press by any suitable means. In the illustration, it is held between the bed rails 11 and 12 and clamped between the stops 11 and 12 and the wood blocks 14: by means of clamping screws 15.

The plate A, the first of a series of registering multi-color plates, and preferably the outline plate is firmly clamped to the chase 13 as by means of suitable clamps 16.

This plate is then inked and after a trial sheet shows that it is satisfactorily located, the register frame consisting of a metal frame B and a transparent or semi-transparent sheet C is carefully positioned on the bed and chase with respect thereto, and the transparent sheet of celluloid or the like is pressed carefully down 011 the inked plate A, thereby producing lines D on the underside of the sheet 0 which are shown greatly enlarged in Fig. 1.

This register frame is preferably made up as shown in Fig. 3 by means of metal strips 17l8, whichare secured together by means of screws 19, one of these strips being placed on each side of the celluloid sheets C. These metal frame members are provided at the top with downwardly projecting lugs 20-21 which engage the upper surface of the chase 13, while the left-hand end of the frame B is pressed firmly against the left-hand bed rail 11.

In applying the register frame to the first of the printing plates A, the lugs 20, 21 are placed over the upper edge of the chase 13, and then the whole frame is slid to the left until it engages the bed rail 11, after which the frame is swung down about the lugs 20, 21 as hinges. until the sheet G is brought into contact with the inked printing surfaces of the plate A. After this the register frame is lifted away from the'printing plate, again using the lugs 20, 21 as hinges. V

The sheets to be printed are then run through the press and printed from the plate A, after which the second plate of the series of multi-color plates is then laid upon the chase 13 and moved approximately to position. The register frame C is replaced in the same position as before with respect to the chase 13 and the left bed rail 11, the register frame being lowered until it is near the second plate, but not in contact therewith. By comparing the impression D on the transparent sheets C of the register frame with the second plate, it will be apparent how this plate must be moved to bring it into proper registration with the impression D. The plate in then moved and again compared with the impression D on the register frame. One or two such moves are usually all that are required to place the second plate in proper position for registration. The clamps 16 are then set and the register frame again made use of to see that the plate has not shifted during the operation of clamping. If found to be in correct register, the plate is then in position for the second impression. This operation is repeated for as many plates as are to be employed.

In 6 is shown a modification of register frame which is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that an extra side lug 22 is added at the left side, and this may engage a side of the chase 18 to position the register frame instead of lying in contact with the left bed rail 11. Otherwise the register frame shown in Fig. 6 and its operation are the same as that shown and described in Fig. 1.

Thus it will be seen that a very simple and efiicient apparatus is provided for bringing about close registration of the various plates used in multi-color printing.

While I have shown and described but a few embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement which do not depart from the spirit of the invention may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a multi-color printing press, a chase, a removable register frame, said frame having lugs adapted to engage portions of said chase to insure registration of said chase and frame, said frame having a transparent portion adapted to receive an ink impression from a plate secured to the chase while said frame is in registration with said chase whereby another plate may be placed in registration by means of said impression.

2. In combination, a chase having rigid sides lying substantially at right angles to each other, a register frame having three hooks, two of which are adapted to engage one of the sides of said chase, the other of which is adapted to engage the other side of said chase for positioning said frame with respect to said chase.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of March, 1929.

GEORGE A. SIMMS. 

